More, More, More: Wealthy Neighborhoods Inspire Materialism

People who always want more may be affected by the neighborhood they live in. Residents of wealthy communities are prone to be more materialistic, spend compulsively, and save less, according to a study published today in the Journal of Consumer Culture. The trend may be a product of “social comparison,” the researchers argue—seeing affluent neighbors spend money on luxury cars and the like, and then feeling the need to keep up with the Joneses.